Tooth brush



June 4, 1963 HARACZ 3,091,789

TOOTH BRUSH Filed Dec. 5, 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,091,789 TOOTH BRUSH Edward F. Haracz, 161 Pershing Ave, Clifton, N .1. Filed Dec. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 157,090 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-27) This invention relates to improvements in tooth brushes, and has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of tooth brush which is adapted to be manipulated in use in various ways in the cleaning of either natural teeth, or in the cleaning of removable dental plates.

This invention has for an object to provide a construction of tooth brush having a novel arrangement of relatively disposed brush or bristlegroups whereby, in use, outer and inner surfaces of the users teeth can be separately brushed and cleaned, similarly as is done With heretofore known conventional tooth brushes, or, optionally, can be manipulated to simultaneously brush and clean the inner, outer and top surfaces of the users teeth in a single operation.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel tooth brush structure comprising a handle terminating in a forward head, this head being provided with longitudinally spaced apart brush bristle groups disposed to project laterally, in opposite directions, from the sides of the head, with inner ends of said brush bristle group's disposed in spaced apart longitudinal opposition one to the other, the head being further provided with a third group of brush bristles which project therefrom, perpendicular thereto, between said inner ends of said first mentioned brush bristle groups, whereby laterally projecting brush bristles can be separately applied to inner and outer surfaces of teeth to be cleaned, or the brush bristle groups can be applied across the teeth to be cleaned so as to straddle the latter, and, when then manipulated, to simultaneously brush and clean both inner and outer surfaces of the teeth, while said third group of brush bristles simultaneously brushes and cleans the tops or ends of said teeth.

The above and other objects will be understood from a reading of the following description of the tooth brush structure of this invention in connection with the ac companying drawings showing illustrative embodiments thereof; which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of one form of tooth brush according to this invention, and FIG. 2 is a side elevatioual view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view 'of the tooth brush handle with the groups of brush bristles removed; and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the same with the brush bristles removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tooth brush of FIG. 1 :as applied across teeth to be cleaned, whereby to simultaneously brush and clean outer, inner and top end surfaces of said teeth.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a modified form of a tooth brush according to this invention.

Referring to said drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a longitudinal handle member which terminates 'at its forward end in a narrow head 11 in alignment therewith and extending in the plane thereof. This handle member is preferably molded from a suitable plastic material.

In one form of the tooth brush according to this invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, the head 11 of the handle member is provided with longitudinally aligned and extended spaced apart projections or ribs 12 and 13, the same being unitary with said head, and disposed to project perpendicularly from a face thereof.

7 3,091,789 Patented June 4, 1963 The opposed inner ends of these projections or ribs are preferably rounded, and, as spaced apart, provide a gap or open space 14 therebetween. Rooted in the sides and inner ends of the respective projections or ribs .12 and 13 are a multiplicity of bristle tufts 15, thus providing the respective projections or ribs with brush bristle groups A and B. Each such brush bristle group provides longitudinally extending brush sections a, respectively projecting from the opposite side faces of said projections or ribs 12 and 13 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head, so that the bristle tufts thereof extend freely and outwardly beyond the side margins of the handle member head 11 in overlapping relation to said margins. Each such brush bristle group also includes brush sections b which respectively extend around and project from the inner opposed ends of said projections or ribs 12 and 13, and into the open gap or space 14 therebetween.

Rooted in the face of the handle member head 11 to which bristle groups A and B are related within the gap or space 14 between said brush bristle groups A and B, are 'a plurality of bristle tufts 16, thus providing a third brush bristle group C, the bristles of which project perpendicularly from said face of handle member head 11, and between the brush sections b of the brush bristle groups A and B.

From the above, it will now be apparent that the novel arrangement and disposition of the brush bristle groups A and B provide laterally and outwardly projecting opposite side brush bristle sections a and opposed inner end brush bristle sections b, in planes parallel to the face of the handle member head '11 and offset therefrom, with a bristle brush section C extending perpendicular to the plane of the handle member head 11 to project intermediate the brush bristle groups A and B. a

In use, the tooth brush thus constructed can be used in various ways in the process of thoroughly brushing and cleaning the users teeth. For example, the tooth brush can be used in a conventional manner to separately brush and clean inner and outer surfaces of the users teeth. To this end, the side bristle brush sections a of the brush bristle groups A and B can be applied to these surfaces, and thereupon longitudinally reciprocated relative thereto, with desired brushing and cleaning effect. On the other hand, if it is desired to simultaneously brush and clean inner, outer and top end surfaces of the users teeth, while at the same time massaging the associated gum structure, the tooth brush can be applied crosswise of the teeth (see FIG. 5), so as to receive the teeth in the gap or space 14 between the brush bristle groups A and B, when the tooth brush is then applied, and moved along and over the teeth, in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 5, the brush bristle sections b will respectively engage and brush inner and outer face surfaces of the teeth, as well as the underlying gum structure, while the brush bristle section C will engage and brush the end surfaces of the teeth. By selectively utilizing these methods of the tooth brush manipulation, or both thereof, a thorough and effective cleaning of the users teeth or dental plates is assured.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown therein a modified form of the tooth brush of this invention, where in, in place of the stationary or fixed brush bristle groups A and B above described, these groups comprise corresponding rotatable brush bristle groups. In this modified arrangement, the handle member head 11 is provided with longitudinally spaced apart, downwardly projecting pivot posts 20, which are unitary therewit Journaled on these pivot posts 20 are sleeves or hubs 2.1. Rooted in these sleeves or hubs 21 are radially projecting bristle tufts 22, thus providing longitudinally aligned and spaced apart brush bristle groups A and B, which, due to their rotatable action, permit such shift of their bristle tufts, relative to tooth surfaces contacted thereby in use, as to limit Wear and thus conserve and prolong the serviceable life thereof. As to this modified construction, it will be obvious that the brush bristle groups A and B, when moved longitudinally along face surfaces of teeth to be cleaned, will exert desired brushing and cleaning effect. On the other hand, when the tooth brush is applied crosswise of the teeth to be cleaned, said brush bristle groups A and B will respectively simultaneously brush inner and outer face surfaces of the teeth to be cleaned, while the intervening brush bristle groupC will engage and brush the .top ends of said teeth.

Although the tooth brush of this invention has been above described as used for brushing and cleaning the users natural teeth, it will be understood that the tooth brush can also be advantageously used in the brushing and cleaning of a users removed dental plates, whereby to conveniently eflect thorough cleansing thereof.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A tooth brush comprising a handle member terminating in a narrow head extruding longitudinally thereof and substantially in the plane thereof, said head being provided with two longitudinally aligned and spaced apart brush bristle groups disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle and head, the bristle tufts of which project in opposite lateral directions beyond and so as to overlap the long side margins of said head and toward each other with respect to the spaced apart inner ends of said groups, said head having means projecting perpendicular to the head and adapted to support said bristle groups in connection with and in the aforesaid described relation to said head, and said head being further provided with a third bristle group, the bristles of which are disposed to project perpendicular to the plane of the head and intermediate theopposed inner ends of said two first mentioned brush bristle groups.

2. A tooth brush comprising a handle member terminating in a narrow head extruding longitudinally thereof a and substantially in the plane thereof, said head having .4. longitudinally extruding elongated ribs unitary therewith and disposed to project perpendicularly from a face of said head and aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof, each rib having a brush bristle group mounted thereon, the bristle tufts of whichprojectin opposite lateral directions beyond and so as to overlap the long sides of said head and toward each other with respect to the spaced apart inner ends of said ribs, and said head being further 7 provided with a third brush bristle group, the bristles of which are disposed to project perpendicular to the plane of the head and intermediate the opposed inner ends of the ribs and bristle tufts extruding therefrom.

3. A tooth brush comprising a handle member terminating in a narrow head extruding longitudinally thereof and substantially in the plane thereof, said head being provided two longitudinally aligned and spaced apart brush bristle groups, the bristle tufts of which project in opposite lateral directions beyond and so as to overlap the long side margins of said head, said head having means to support said brush bristle groups in connection therewith, said brush bristle groups being rotatable about said supports therefor, and said head being further provided with a third brush bristle group, the bristles of which are disposed to project perpendicular to the plane of the head and intermediate the first mentioned brush bristle groups.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,916 Simmons May 4, 1915 1,360,292 Hartman Nov. 30, 1920 1,893,002 Rothschild Jan. 3, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,005 Great Britain July 16, 19-10 71,509 Germany Oct. 18, 1893 78,410 Germany Nov. 29, 1894 268,497 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1950 841,973 France Feb. 20, 1939 

1. A TOOTH BRUSH COMPRISING A HANDLE MEMBER TERMINATING IN A NARROW HEAD EXTRUDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE THEREOF, SAID HEAD BEING PROVIDED WITH TWO LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED AND SPACED APART BRUSH BRISTLE GROUPS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE HANDLE AND HEAD, THE BRISTLE TUFTS OF WHICH PROJECT IN OPPOSITE LATERAL DIRECTIONS BEYOND AND SO AS TO OVERLAP THE LONG SIDE MARGINS OF SAID HEAD AND TOWARD EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT TO THE SPACED APART INNER ENDS OF SAID GROUPS, SAID HEAD HAVING MEANS PROJECTING 